COUNCIL CONNECTION GLADSTONE REGIONAL COUNCIL NEWSLETTER October - November 2017 ISSUE 80 INSIDE 06 06 07 10 Excitement builds Australia Day award Prepare for cyclone Strong attendance at for art awards nominations open and storm season Seniors Week Mayor's Message October shaping up as busy month for region It is not long now until Australasian Bioenergy and Bioproducts Lions Park at Kin Kora Symposium at Rydges Gladstone, featuring becomes our region’s a number of international speakers and first sensory park. underlining the significant role the region The upgrade to Lions can play in the state’s bio-future and Park, which is due for bioeconomy. completion in mid- While here for the symposium, another November, will create international company I met with in San a vibrant, modern area Diego in June will investigate the possibility of for children and adults establishing a facility within the region. Cover of all ages and abilities to enjoy by focussing The entity converts cellulosic biomass The free, fun morning events at the Tondoon on the seven senses – hearing, sight, smell, Botanic Gardens have proved popular with taste, touch, vestibular and proprioception. derived from plant matter into renewable Gladstone Region children and their families. Two diesel, aviation and marine fuel, as well as more events will be held this year in spring and Featuring inclusive spaces designed to meet create bio-char and bio-plastic by-products. summer. the sensory needs of children with sensory Read more on page 11 processing disorder, auditory processing October will be a busy month for the region disorder, visual impairment, Down and I am looking forward to the first Under syndrome, autism, muscular dystrophy, the Trees music and arts festival at Jacaranda Council Connection cerebral palsy and spina bifida, Lions Park will Drive, Boyne Island on October 14. This newsletter is produced every two also prove to be a special place among the Council is proud to have helped the Boyne months by Gladstone Regional Council region’s general population. to inform residents about Council events, Tannum Arts Business and Community activities, services and projects. It is printed on Tom Jeffery Park in Agnes Water is also Association get the project off the ground 60 per cent recycled paper. undergoing an upgrade with improved and we are confident that the investment will Delivery shower and toilet amenities, new and reap future rewards. upgraded pathways, new garden beds and Council Connection is delivered directly into The inaugural event boasts an excellent irrigation infrastructure, and the construction all residential letterboxes by Australia Post line-up of talent and as the festival grows, as 'unaddressed mail' and is also available of a storage facility and combined office/first and word of its existence spreads, Council for viewing or downloading from Council’s aid room for Surf Life Saving Queensland. website at www.gladstone.qld.gov.au expects it will become a major drawcard for Both projects are being completed tourists to the region and a highlight of local Cost through the State Government’s Works for residents’ social calendars. Council Connection is automatically delivered Queensland program. free of charge to households in the Gladstone Also in October, we host the Local Region who have a residential letterbox. The The Gladstone Region’s efforts to become a Government Association of Queensland cost of printing and distributing the newsletter renewable energy hub for the nation is also State Conference at the Gladstone is 48.6 cents per household per edition. taking shape with two significant visits to be Entertainment Convention Centre which will received in October. be officially opened by the Honourable Paul Life Sciences Queensland will host its de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland. Gladstone Regional Council PO Box 29, Gladstone Qld 4680 nect Phone: 4970 0700 Fax: 4975 8500 n Email: [email protected] www.gladstone.qld.gov.au CoWITH COUNCIL www.gladstonerc.qld.gov.au/econnect @GladstoneRegionalCouncil @GladstoneRegionalCouncil @GladRegCnl Gladstone Office Calliope Office Miriam Vale Office Agnes Water Rural Boyne Tannum Mount Larcom Rural 101 Goondoon Street 5 Don Cameron Drive 41 Blomfield Street Transaction Centre Community Centre Transaction Centre Open 8.30am to 5pm, Open 8.30am to 5pm, Open 8.30am to 5pm, 71 Springs Road Cnr Wyndham & Hayes Raglan Street Monday to Friday Monday to Friday Monday to Friday Open 9am to 4:30pm, Avenues, Boyne Island Open 9am to 1pm and 2pm Monday to Friday Open 9am to 5:30pm, to 5pm Monday to Friday and Monday to Friday 9am to noon on Saturday Cr Matt Burnett Cr Glenn Churchill Cr Peter Masters Mayor Councillor Councillor Phone: 4976 6903 Phone: 0407 289 139 Phone: 0438 145 780 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Cr Chris Trevor Cr Kahn Goodluck Cr Desley O'Grady Deputy Mayor Councillor Councillor Phone: 0437 757 839 Phone: 0433 944 302 Phone: 0437 837 148 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Cr Cindi Bush Cr Rick Hansen Cr PJ Sobhanian Councillor Councillor Councillor Phone: 0437 642 081 Phone: 0448 885 047 Phone: 0412 544 201 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Page 2 Mayor Matt Burnett and CEO Roslyn Baker hosted a morning tea in the Council chambers to welcome (from left) apprentice Nick Butler-Shaw and trainees, Dylan Cassell, Jay Booth and Madeline Van Vegchel. Apprentice, trainees take first career step with Council Four young people are now following Madeline Van Vegchel and Jay Booth are The training offered through their passions at Council taking up an trainees at the Entertainment Convention apprenticeships and traineeships would apprenticeship and traineeships in civil Centre while Nick Butler-Shaw is an help to underpin the skills base in the construction and maintenance, parks apprentice in Parks and Gardens and Gladstone Region. and gardens, business administration and Dylan Cassell is a civil construction and theatre techniques. maintenance trainee. As they begin their careers, the group was Mayor Matt Burnett and Chief Executive encouraged to think about where they They heard how both the Mayor and Officer Roslyn Baker welcomed the were going and to understand education group recently with the message that CEO are passionate about developing and learning on the job never stops. Council would provide them with a great regional skills and believe Council had an environment to work in, where their important role to play in training young This applies now, more than ever, as new safety would always be the most important people when the economic times were technologies keep coming through and priority. tough. human jobs evolve. Rates update Rate notices were issued by post in early to ensure payments are cleared in time for This means only half of these charges are September and are also available online the discount to be applied. included in current notices; the other half will accompany water consumption notices to registered users of Council’s Online This can be done via Council's Online in February with the usual early payment Services. Services platform at www.gladstone.qld. discounts available. More information about rates can be found gov.au/OnlineServices or in person at at www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/rates or by any Council administration or transaction The change was made to assist the phoning Council on 4970 0700. centre. increasing number of ratepayers who requested that rates be broken up into If you are unable to pay your rates by Discount and payment due dates more manageable portions, better enabling November 10, you can avoid interest them to meet discount deadlines. Don’t forget to pay your rates by October charges on overdue amounts by setting up 11 to receive a 10 per cent discount. a payment plan with Council before the But ratepayers who still want to pay their If this deadline is missed, you can still due date has passed. full annual water access and sewerage charges now can do so; the additional receive a five per cent discount if your Reminder of changes to rates payment is received by notices’ due date of payment will appear as a credit on This financial year, Council split annual February’s notice (which will still include November 10. water access and sewerage charges into the usual half-yearly water consumption Paying directly to Council is the safest way two half-yearly payments. charge). How general rates and charges are calculated ÷ = $ x + = GR Total rates Combined value of “The rate Valuation of your Service charges Your general rates & revenue needed all rateable properties in the dollar” property’s land (water, sewerage, service charges to service waste) community Page 3 Garage Sale Trail to link sellers and buyers There is still time to register for the recycle and reuse items to divert them 2017 Garage Sale Trail and join the fun from being contributed to landfill. of a big weekend of garage sales across There is no cost registering to host a the Gladstone Region. sale and sellers are able to place items The number of individuals, on a regional listing of sales and benefit neighbourhood groups, community from local and national promotion of groups and organisations registering the Garage Sale Trail weekend. as sellers through the Garage Sale Sellers will also receive selling hints and Trail has steadily grown within the tips and be able to access materials to Gladstone Region each year. promote their sale, while buyers can Within the first three weeks of online plot their own treasure trail to print registrations opening, 26 sellers had and follow, or view on a mobile device.